Question about helium?

Question

why does helium make a person's voice change. what is the physiological process that takes place

Answer 1

Refraction. Sound travels at different speeds through different mediums, and it travels slower through helium than through air. This means that the same wavelength will cause a higher frequency. Basically it changes the speed at which your vocal chords vibrate while it's present.

Answer 2

You have gotten a couple of correct answers, however, I think it might be a good idea to make a comment for the sake of safety.  It is not safe to inhale helium for long as the gas can suffocate you, inhaling carbon dioxide is extremely dangerous and should not be done under any circumstances as carbon dioxide can have very bad effects on your blood chemistry.

Answer 3

There is no physiological process. Helium is less dense than normal air, so sound will move through it at a different speed, giving you a high-pitched voice. If you were to inhale carbon dioxide, which is denser than air, your voice would also change, but it would become much deeper. It is purely physics, not biology.

Answer 4

Not a physiological process - sound waves travel faster through helium than they do through regular air because helium is less dense than regular air (six times less dense) - hence the difference in the sound.

Answer 5

Since Helium is lighter than most other gases (second only to hydrogen) it allows your vocal chords to move faster, which is what makes your voice change.

Not recommended for long periods of time because your body can't do anything with the helium, asphyxia can result if you're not too careful.